Anchoring device

ABSTRACT

An anchoring device which includes a shaft having a head and tip at opposing ends of the shaft. A flexible cord is attached to the shaft with the free or opposite end of the chord used to attach to objects which are desired to be suspended. The shaft of the anchoring device is inserted tip end first either directly into a structural member such as a hollow wall or ceiling or through a hole which has been pre-drilled through such structural member. When the supporting rod exits the structural member it immediately rotates into an anchoring position due to the flexible nature of the attached cord.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an anchoring or fastening device andmore particularly to an anchoring device which may be inserted through awall, ceiling or other structure whereupon the anchoring device rotatesand can thereafter be used to firmly anchor a weight bearing object.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] A wide variety of anchors or fasteners have been used forsecuring or suspending articles on walls as well as ceilings. Two of themost common types of anchor devices are a molly-bolt type anchor deviceand a toggle-bolt type anchor devices, which are used in lieu of nailsand screws, alone, which are subject to being dislodged and pulled fromthe wall as the wall material does not support the anchor.

[0005] A molly bolt anchor device generally consists of a housing orbody which is inserted through an opening formed in the wall. The bodythreadably receives a screw, which when threaded into the body, causesthe body to be expanded outwardly against the inner surface of the holeformed in the wall. The expansion of the body results in deformation,wherein portions of the body spread out, pressing against the materialdefining the hole. This prevents withdrawal of the body, and anchors thedevice to the wall.

[0006] Toggle-bolt type anchor devices consist of wings spread by aspring, and are particularly effective as an anchor on wall boardconnected to spaced studs, leaving a hollow space behind the wall board.The wings are forced together against the spring force and insertedthrough an opening formed in the wall. Once through the wall, the wingsare expanded or toggled apart by the spring. As a screw is threadedthrough the wing assembly, the wing assembly is pulled firmly againstthe inner surface of the wall.

[0007] Toggle-bolt anchor devices are subject to some of the samelimitations as molly-bolt anchor devices in that if use as an anchor isno longer required, for example, by the removal of the anchoring screw,the molly bolt housing or body, remains visible and unsightly on thewall surface. Toggle bolts fastened by a screw fastener remain in thewall after a hook or other mounting device is mounted.

[0008] Thus, even though there are numerous wall and ceiling fasteningmembers and anchor structures and systems known and used commercially inthe art, there remains a continuing need for an inexpensive wall orceiling anchoring structure and system that provides an economical andreliable support, easy insertion steps, can be readily manufactured at alow cost yet be readily removable without visible remains when no longerneeded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the invention, an anchoring or fasteningdevice is provided having a shaft which includes a head and tip whichare connected to the opposed ends of the shaft. A flexible cord or pieceof monofilament is attached to the shaft, preferably at or near themidpoint of the shaft, and the opposite or free end of the cord is usedto attach an object which is desired to be suspended or supported. Theshaft of the supporting rod optionally includes one or more channelswhich are large enough in diameter to seat the chord.

[0010] The shaft of the anchoring device is inserted tip end firsteither directly into a structure such as a hollow wall or ceilingthrough a hole which has been pre-drilled through such a structure, oris tapped or is hammered through the wall by contact by a tool such as ahammer with the head. Upon exiting the rear surface of the wall, theshaft rotates to an anchoring position, flat against the rear surface ofthe wall and can thereafter be used to support the weight of an objectwhich is attached to the free end of the cord, which projects outwardlyfrom the hole in the wall.

[0011] A hook, if desired can be attached to the free end of the cord.Objects which are desired to be supported can thereafter be hung uponthe hook. A tightening device such as a friction clutch can be attachedto the free end of the cord next to the hook so that the hook can betightened on the cord. Otherwise, the free end of the chord isconfigured into a loop which can be used to hang objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an anchor assembly in accordancewith the invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the anchor deviceof FIG. 1 for use on a wall;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view in plan of the anchor assembly of FIG. 1illustrating the insertion of the assembly into the wall;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the use ofthe assembly with a predrilled opening in the wall;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hollow ceiling provided withthe anchor assembly of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the anchor assembly of theinvention, and

[0018]FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the anchor assembly of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numeralsindicate like elements throughout the several views, there isillustrated a wall or ceiling anchor assembly generally designated as10. Anchor 10 includes shaft 12 and a cord or string of monofilament orthe like 14 which is attached to shaft 12, through opening 13 preferablyat or near the midpoint 16 of shaft 12.

[0020] Shaft 12 includes a head 18 which forms one end of shaft 12.Shaft 12 has a pointed tip 22 at its opposite end. Shaft 12 may alsoinclude a channel 24 on opposite diametrical portions extending fromopening 13 to head 18 which is preferably large enough in dimension toaccommodate cord 14.

[0021] Head 18 is shaped to be engaged by a driving tool like a hammer.In the embodiment shown, tip 22 is pointed and conical in shape.

[0022] Cord 14 can be permanently or removably attached to rod 12. Suchmethods of attachment include but are not limited to tying, gluing orsoldering. Cord 14 can be composed of any material which is flexibleenough to allow cord 14 to bend so that shaft 12 can rotate from aninserted position to an anchoring position as will be describedhereinafter in greater detail.

[0023]FIGS. 1 and 2 shows anchor assembly 10 adapted for use in hangingor otherwise supporting bodies upon a vertical surface of a hollow wall36 having exterior side 38 and interior side 39. In this embodiment, ahook 30 is attached to the end of cord 14 of anchoring system 10 so thatobjects like paintings and the like (not shown) can easily be hung onhook 30. Hook 30 may further include tightening device 32 such as afriction clutch or the like which can be used to tighten hook 30 on cord14.

[0024] In operation, shaft 12 is inserted through wall 36 as is shown inFIG. 3 or FIG. 4. Insertion of shaft 12 through the wall 36 is obtainedby simply hammering shaft 12 into the wall 36 somewhat similar to anail, by tapping head 18 with a hammer. In the alternative, a hole 40can be pre-drilled into wall 36 and then shaft 12 can be inserted inthrough predrilled hole 40.

[0025] The dimension of any pre-drilled hole 40 will preferably be justlarge enough to permit passage of anchor 10 through hole 40. However,because rod 12 will typically include channels 24 which can containchord 14, the dimension of pre-drilled hole 40 will typically only needto be as large as the diameter of shaft 12.

[0026] By preferably including channel 24, insertion of anchor 10 ismade easier and smoother because cord 14 will not be exposed outside ofchannel 24, thereby eliminating any friction which could be causedbetween cord 14 and the inner surface area 44 of wall 36 which surroundshole 40 as anchor 10 is inserted through hole 40 or interference withthe tapping of head 18.

[0027] Upon emerging from being driven through wall 36 or pre-drilledfrom hole 40, shaft 12 which is now displaced from hole 40 of wall 36will fall downward, tip 22 end first due to gravity until shaft 12 restsin a substantially vertical or anchoring position as is most clearlyshown in FIG. 2. At this point, clutch 32 can be frictionally engagedwith cord 14 and slid relative to cord 14, to push hook 30 against theexterior surface 38 of wall 36 and pulling shaft 12 into contact withthe interior surface 39 of wall 36.

[0028] In FIG. 5, anchor assembly 10 is used for hanging or otherwisesupporting bodies upon a wall 36 or a horizontal surface of a ceiling 50having an interior side 52 and an exterior side 54. Cord 14 may end in aloop 56 upon which objects (not shown) can be hung.

[0029] Insertion of anchor 10 through a hollow ceiling 50 is the same aswith wall 36 of the present invention and can be accomplished by eitherforceably pushing shaft 12 of anchor 10 tip end 22 first, throughceiling 50 or by pushing shaft 12 through a pre-drilled hole similar tothe hole 40 on wall 36. Upon emerging from the pre-drilled hole, shaft12 which is now displaced from the hole of ceiling 50 will pivot andfall downward until shaft 12 rests in a substantially horizontal oranchoring position as is clearly shown in FIG. 5. Support rod 12 willfirmly abut interior surface 52 of ceiling 50 due to gravitationalforces which pull down on rod 12. In addition, the weight bearing forceof any object (not shown) attached to loop 56 of cord 14 will also pullshaft 12 against interior surface 52 of ceiling 50.

[0030] The length of shaft 12 in both described embodiments of thepresent invention will typically depend upon the construction of thewall 36 or ceiling 50 through which shaft 12 is inserted. For example,where wall 36 or ceiling 50 are of sturdy construction such as wood orcement, then the length of shaft 12 does not need to be that great. Insuch a case the length of rod 12 might typically be just long enough sothat shaft 12 is greater than the thickness of the wall 36 or ceiling 50for which the assembly is intended so that rod 12 can easily be insertedthrough wall 36 or ceiling 50.

[0031] However, in the case where wall 36 or ceiling 50 are of fragileconstruction such as with hollow walls such as drywalls, compositionsheet walls, plaster-board walls or molded fiberglass walls, the lengthof shaft 12 will preferably be increased so as to more eveningdistribute the load bearing weight carried by shaft 12. One particularadvantage of the present invention is that weight can be distributedover a large area by simply increasing the length of shaft 12. This canbe particularly advantageous in that by increasing the distribution ofweight over a longer shaft 12 there will be less chance that wall 36 orceiling 50 will cave in at the weight point of attachment at midpoint 16of shaft 12.

[0032] When the anchor is no longer needed, the cord 14 is cut and thehole 40 or tapped hole formed by the pointed tip 22 spackled, filed orpainted and the wall 36 can be restored to its original condition.

I claim:
 1. An anchoring device comprising: (a) a shaft having a headand tip, at opposed ends of the shaft, and (b) a flexible cord having afirst end which is attached to said shaft and a free second end, wherebyupon insertion of said shaft through a hollow wall or ceiling said shaftrotates about said cord from an inserted position to an anchoringposition wherein an object which can be attached to the second end ofsaid cord.
 2. The anchoring device in claim 1, further comprising a hookwhich is attached to said second end of said cord.
 3. The anchoringdevice in claim 2, further comprising a clutch on said second endwherein said clutch can be pulled to tighten said hook on said chord. 4.Then anchoring device of claim 1 including a channel in said shaftreceiving said chord.
 5. The anchoring device of claim 4, wherein saidchannel is of a size so as to capture said cord within the diameter ofsaid shaft.
 6. The anchoring device of claim 5 including a channel oneach side of said shaft.
 7. The anchoring device of claim 6 including achannel on each side of said shaft.